England claimed the International Women's Rugby Series after beating New Zealand 29-21 in an entertaining match in Rotorua on Saturday.
The world champions were full value for their win and outscored their visitors by five tries to three with Emily Scarratt leading the way with a nine-point haul courtesy of a try and two conversions.
The sides were deadlocked at 14-14 at half-time with Kendra Cocksedge and Portia Woodman scoring tries for the Black Ferns and Scarrett and Abbie Scott dotting down for England.
England were fastest out of the blocks and opened the scoring in the second minute when Scarrett ghosted past a couple of defenders before crossing in the left-hand corner.
The Black Ferns replied in the 10th minute when Kendra Cocksedge kicked ahead just outside England's 22 before regathering and sliding over the try-line.
Midway through the half, New Zealand increased their lead when Woodman intercepted a wayward pass from Scarratt and outpaced the cover defence from close to her 10-metre line before dotting down.
England drew level in the 36th minute when Scott dotted down from a driving maul deep inside New Zealand's 22.
The visitors made a bright start to the second half when Lydia Thompson rounded Woodman with ease before dotting down in the right-hand corner.
Ten minutes later, England pulled further ahead when Marlie Packer went over from close quarters after gathering a clever offload from Scott at a maul and they sealed victory in the 68th minute when Vicky Fleetwood scored their final try from the back of a lineout drive close to the Black Ferns' try-line.
New Zealand added some respectability to the score when Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali stepped past a couple of defenders before scoring her side's third try in the game's closing stages.
The scorers:
For New Zealand Women:
Tries: Cocksedge, Woodman, Subritsky-Nafatali
Cons: Cocksedge 2, Brazier
For England Women:
Tries: Scarratt, Scott, Thompson, Packer, Fleetwood
Cons: Scarratt 2
New Zealand Women: 15 Selica Winiata, 14 Portia Woodman, 13 Stacey Waaka, 12 Chelsea Alley, 11 Renee Wickliffe, 10 Kelly Brazier, 9 Kendra Cocksedge, 8 Linda Itunu 7 Sarah Goss, 6 Rawinia Everitt, 5 Charmaine Smith, 4 Eloise Blackwell, 3 Aldora Itunu, 2 Fiao’o Faamausili, 1 Toka Natua
Replacements: 16 Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamata,17 Sosoli Talawadu, 18 Aleisha Nelson, 19 Becky Wood, 20 Charmaine McMenanim, 21 Kristina Sue, 22 Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, 23 Honey Hireme
England Women: 15 Danielle Waterman, 14 Lydia Thompson, 13 Emily Scarratt, 12 Rachael Burford, 11 Kay Wilson, 10 Katy Mclean, 9 Natasha Hunt, 8 Sarah Hunter (c), 7 Marlie Packer, 6 Alex Matthews, 5 Abbie Scott, 4 Tamara Taylor, 3 Sarah Bern, 2 Amy Cokayne, 1 Rochelle Clark
Replacements: 16 Vicky Fleetwood, 17 Vickii Cornborough, 18 Justine Lucas, 19 Harriet Millar-Mills, 20 Izzy Noel-Smith, 21 La Toya Mason, 22 Amber Reed, 23 Emily Scott
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